If a Newbie can offer his 2 cents so can 'an oldie'.  

Although I have been a casual birder since 1973 I decided to focus on birding about 10 years ago - I really needed something for myself besides work.  This Listserv and the SE Michigan listserv were just what I needed to get the lay of the  land and help with identifications.  Sightings were posted daily with info and directions on how to get to where the birds were.  And the folks posting were very helpful.  If I posted a bird picture on Flickr and it was incorrect, they carefully guided through its correct identification (Bill Whan helped me on many occasions, although he probably did not remember specifically because he helps many folks).   I learned to pay closer attention to physical details and to behaviors and to habitat.  I became a better birder with every interaction and today I am able to help others with routine I.D.'s.  

I am an optimistic person and believe in the basic goodness and generosity of the vast majority of people - period!  Sure there's nuts and jerks and self-inflated people out there but they are few compared to the rest - don't let them get under your skin.   There are many, many people who monitor this Listserv that never make comments - I know because when I post a picture on my Flickr page and see 200 views in a couple days they didn't get to that page by chance (Feb sighting of Ross's Goose, Snow Goose and Greater White-fronted Geese at Mosquito Creek WA).

Yes, people have migrated to Facebook and elsewhere but don't let that deter us from engaging in meaningful dialog right here.  Focus on what you have and be glad for it (I think that called  'living in the present').  My 'thing' happens to be eBird and I will swap emails with anyone who wants to know more about how to use it and why it is beneficial for you and for the birding community as a whole.   Others can wax-and-wane poetically about bird song or bird behavior or birding by habitats.  Others are experts on optics and still others on photography.

My last thought confirms what you found with birders in the field.  Most are more than willing to let you look through their spotting scope or help you find a bird hidden In the bushes.  If you are nice to them they are nice to you.  Some people are not social (that doesn’t mean they cannot be nice - they just are not outgoing) so be cautious about jumping to conclusions.  And there are some crab cakes out there, too, but they are few so focus on the nice folks.

Now, let's get out there and start finding those early migrants and letting others know when you do.

Matt Valencic
Geauga County



-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Todd Eiben
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 3:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Evolution of this list

Bill,  I am certainly a newbie to birding.  I just started in September of 2015 when I purchased a "pocket" camera capable of 30X zoom and 60X zoom if you cut down the size of the picture you are taking.  If I get lucky with enough light around, I can get a pretty darn good picture at 120X zoom. 

I am new to the forum/listing for sure.  I found the state record Great Cormorant.  I posted on March 4th looking for help in adding the bird to ebird to Jen and the rest of the forum.

I got exactly 1 private response!  You can draw your own conclusions, Bill, but I think people saying newbies get turned off is real.  I would think many would respond and perhaps offer congratulations.  Nope!  I am new and nobody knows me!  I can only think what people are saying privately about a newbie finding a state record!

The exact opposite has happened in the field.  I have met so many wonderful birders over thlke last several week looking at the Cormorant and so many congratulated me.  I am sure many did not have the slightest idea who I was , but they were a joy to be around. I actually like it that way as I like to stay in the shadows...so to speak.  

I have had trepidation about trying to bird over the years.  I am color blind to a number of colors.  Brown and green look the same to me.  Green and gray look the same to me  Blue and purple look the same to me.  Pink and light green look the same to me.  Red and brown often times look the same to me.  Despite all of this,  I decided to give to give birding a try and I have enjoyed it so far.  


Having said this, I looked at a number of posts from 2001/2002.   I came across Kevin Metcalf.  Kevin got me involved with nature back in 2001 at North Chagrin Reservation.  He taught me about butterflies first and then got me started on dragonflies before he moved to one of the Carolinas to run a number of nature areas.  I have been actively doing butterfly transects for the Ohio Leps since then and do at least a dozen NABA butterfly counts every Summer.  I have also gotten better and better at dragonflies and damselfies, especially since I got active in photographing them and can identify nearly all I see in the field in Ohio. (Some damselflies, especially females) are very tough ID's)

Yes, I am a newbie to birding, but I have been around nature for a long time.  I can understand why new people would be turned off to the forum.  I am not being critical of anyone here.  I am just saying that many are probably turning off newbies without even realizing it.  The lack of encouragement and help for newbies has to turn them off because I wish there was more and I have been around nature quite awhile. 

  I watch people post what they have seen here and I am blown away that they take the time to let us know what they are seeing.  This is great!  I find it difficult to do this on a regular basis and I really admire folks who do this!  It helps others to know what is heading their way.  Perhaps folks may want to head to the poster's areas to see what they saw!  People are proud and excited to post what they see!  No matter how "common" you may think it is,  I think we need to show more enthusiasm for others who post here....ESPECIALLY public support!  What may be common in one area is not always so common in another area.  People are proud to post here.  Let's share their enthusiasm!

This is just my 2 cents from a newbie birder, but not a newbie to nature.
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______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.


You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
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Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]